Six-star Barcelona enjoy all-day 'party'

Story highlights

Atletico Madrid's defeat to Vallecano gives Barcelona a 12-point lead in Spain

Catalan side thrashed Getafe 6-1 in midday kickoff as six different players score

Mario Balotelli's AC Milan surrender fourth place in Italy to city rivals Internazionale

Lyon's defeat gives PSG a six-point lead in the French title race

Barcelona's Sunday celebrations started early with a 6-1 romp over Getafe, and ended late with a slip-up by second-placed Atletico Madrid which has all but ended the Spanish title race.

Atletico's 2-1 defeat at Rayo Vallecano gave Barca a commanding 12-point lead with 15 matches to play, as third-placed champions Real Madrid languish another four points adrift.

"It was an unusual time to play but we had a party in the stadium," the Catalan side's assistant coach Jordi Roura said after the midday kickoff at the Camp Nou, where more than 85,000 fans turned up.

"The players were at an extraordinary level. They were intense from the first minute," added Roura, who is running the team while Tito Vilanova is receiving cancer treatment in New York

Alexis Sanchez opened the scoring in the sixth minute with his first league goal this season before Lionel Messi netted for a record-extending 13th successive La Liga game before quarter of an hour had been played -- his 35th in the competition from 23 appearances.

Messi makes point – Barcelona forward Lionel Messi (right) celebrates after scoring from the penalty spot in the 1-1 draw against Valencia.

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Messi and Balotelli spot on3 photos

Super Mario – Mario Balotelli marked his return to Italy's Serie A with both goals in AC Milan's 2-1 win over Udinese, the second coming from the penalty spot deep into time added on.

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Messi and Balotelli spot on3 photos

Balo's back – Balotelli had opened the scoring just 25 minutes into his debut with a left-foot volley at the San Siro.

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El Tigre: Falcao on fire 5 photos

El Tigre: Falcao on fire5 photos

The Tiger – Nicknamed "El Tigre" as a boy by his friends, Radamel Falcao has torn apart defenses all over the world. Atletico paid out $53 million to take him to Spain from Porto in 2011 and he more than repaid that fee, firing 36 goals in his first season and leading the club to the victory in the Europa League.

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El Tigre: Falcao on fire5 photos

Deadly duo – Falcao's impressive form has seen him mentioned in the same breath as Barcelona magician Lionel Messi. The Colombian scored a wonderful goal at the Camp Nou to open the scoring in December but Messi grabbed two as Barca eased to a 4-1 win.

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El Tigre: Falcao on fire5 photos

Star man – Atletico is enjoying a successful season with the club second in La Liga, through to the semifinals of the Spanish Cup and also in contention to retain its Europa League title. Falcao has been central to the team's impressive run of form, scoring 18 goals in the league so far this term.

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El Tigre: Falcao on fire5 photos

World Cup dream – Falcao hopes to lead the line for Colombia at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. His nation has not appeared at the finals since 1998 but holds the third of four automatic qualifying places in the South American group.

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El Tigre: Falcao on fire5 photos

Celebrity status – Falcao and his singer songwriter wife Lorelei Taron are both in the celebrity spotlight. It's a role to which the player has had to grow accustomed since becoming a worldwide phenomenon.

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Spain dominates football's rich list 11 photos

Spain dominates football's rich list11 photos

Leading the way –

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Spain dominates football's rich list11 photos

Real deal – Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo has become an integral part of the club's success both on and off the pitch with the Spanish giant leading the Football Money League table for the eighth year in a row.

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Spain dominates football's rich list11 photos

Barca brand – Leo Messi's goals and success has been key to Barcelona's ability to draw in fans and broadcasters at will. It is the fourth year in a row that the club has finished second in the Football Money League table behind arch-rival Real Madrid.

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Spain dominates football's rich list11 photos

United on course – Robin van Persie, a $38 million summer signing, has helped Manchester United reach the top of the Premier League as it looks to wrestle the title back from rival Manchester City. United, which has recently signed a record shirt deal with General Motors, has been tipped to overhaul the top two over the coming years.

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Spain dominates football's rich list11 photos

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Spain dominates football's rich list11 photos

Bavarian bonus – Bayern Munich, which recently appointed Pep Guardiola as its new manager for the 2013/14 season, remain in fourth position. The German giant reached the Champions League final last season where it was beaten by Chelsea.

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Spain dominates football's rich list11 photos

Spain dominates football's rich list –

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Spain dominates football's rich list11 photos

Chelsea chasing – European Champions League holder Chelsea is fifth in the money list. The London club has spent big money in recent years including the $80 million purchase of Spain striker Fernando Torres.

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Spain dominates football's rich list11 photos

Looks who's watching –

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Spain dominates football's rich list11 photos

Arsenal up there – .Arsenal stays sixth in the table despite it's failure to win a single trophy since 2005. The club has also seen big name departures with Cesc Fabregas joining Barcelona and Robin van Persie moving to Manchester United

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Spain dominates football's rich list11 photos

City slickers – Manchester City's Premier League title win catapulted the club up the Football Money League table and into seventh position. City's revenue grew to $452.6 million, the largest absolute and relative growth of any Money League club.

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David Beckham through the years 23 photos

David Beckham through the years23 photos

David Beckham through the years – David Beckham is a man of many talents. Not only is he one of the most famous names in sports, but he's also one heck of a model. Tommy Hilfiger has now recognized the 38-year-old former soccer player as the No. 1 underwear model of the century. It's just one of several career highs for Beckham, seen here modeling Emporio Armani underwear in a 2009-2010 ad campaign.

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David Beckham through the years23 photos

David Beckham through the years – Beckham makes his England debut at a World Cup qualifying match against Moldova in 1996.

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David Beckham through the years23 photos

David Beckham through the years – Beckham celebrates his goal against Colombia in the 1998 World Cup.

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David Beckham through the years23 photos

David Beckham through the years – As a player on Manchester United, Beckham cools down during the FA Charity Shield match against Arsenal in 1998.

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David Beckham through the years23 photos

David Beckham through the years – At the 1998 World Cup, in a second-round match against Argentina, Beckham was sent off for kicking out at Diego Simeone. England lost the match on penalties and was eliminated, with Beckham becoming a hate figure for some fans.

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David Beckham through the years23 photos

David Beckham through the years – Beckham poses after a news conference in Awaji-shima Island, Japan, in 2002.

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David Beckham through the years23 photos

David Beckham through the years – Beckham poses with Beyonce, left, and Jennifer Lopez in Madrid during a presentation of the new Pepsi "Samourai" in 2004.

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David Beckham through the years23 photos

A name brand – Beckham acts as England's captain during the 2004 European Championships in Portugal.

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David Beckham through the years23 photos

David Beckham through the years – Beckham waves after a La Liga match between Real Madrid and Deportivo La Coruna in 2007.

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David Beckham through the years23 photos

David Beckham through the years – The midfielder celebrates with his sons in 2007 after Real Madrid won the Spanish League title by beating Mallorca.

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David Beckham through the years23 photos

David Beckham through the years – Beckham makes an appearance to promote his fragrance "David Beckham Intimately Night" in Sydney in 2007.

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David Beckham through the years23 photos

David Beckham through the years – Beckham reveals his new No. 32 jersey after his loan move to AC Milan in 2008.

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David Beckham through the years23 photos

David Beckham through the years – Beckham controls the ball during a 2010 World Cup qualifier.

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David Beckham through the years23 photos

David Beckham through the years – Beckham, during his time with the Los Angeles Galaxy, walks toward the line judge to have a chat during Game 1 of the MLS Western Conference semifinals in 2009.

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David Beckham through the years23 photos

David Beckham through the years – Beckham arrives at Sydney International Airport in 2010.

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David Beckham through the years23 photos

David Beckham through the years – David and his wife, Victoria, arrive at the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey in 2011.

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David Beckham through the years23 photos

David Beckham through the years – The Beckhams attend the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in West Hollywood, California, in 2012.

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David Beckham through the years23 photos

David Beckham through the years – Beckham celebrated his second MLS Cup in December 2012 when he decided to leave with a year left on his contract and seek one final challenge in Europe.

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David Beckham through the years23 photos

David Beckham through the years – Beckham passes under London's Tower Bridge in a speedboat carrying the Olympic Torch in 2012.

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David Beckham through the years – Beckham poses with Paris Saint-Germain President Nasser Al-Khelaifi, left, and PSG sports director Leonardo during a news conference announcing his new gig in January 2013.

Atletico striker Radamel Falcao scored his 19th league goal this season, putting him third in the Pichichi standings behind Real's Cristiano Ronaldo -- who took his tally to 24 with a hat-trick in Saturday's 4-1 win over Sevilla.

However, it came far too late -- the last kick of the match -- as Vallecano moved up to fifth place on goal difference above Valencia thanks to first-half goals from Guinean striker Alhassane Bangoura and Brazilian forward Leo Baptistao.

Real Sociedad moved up to eighth with a 2-1 win at Zaragoza, while Barcelona's city rivals Espanyol eased relegation worries with a 4-0 win at Athletic Bilbao.

Italy

Mario Balotelli scored his second successive penalty for AC Milan to rescue a 1-1 draw at Cagliari, but his team surrendered fourth place in Serie A to city rivals Internazionale.

Balotelli took his tally to three goals in two games since signing for $30 million from English champions Manchester City with an 82nd-minute spot-kick, but the Italy striker also missed a late chance to snatch victory.

Inter won 3-1 at home to Chievo to move within a point of third-placed Lazio, as striker Antonio Cassano scored in the second minute then defender Andrea Ranocchia restored the lead with a header after Luca Rigoni's equalizer, and Diego Milito added the third in the second half.

Germany

Freiburg moved up to fifth in the Bundesliga following Sunday's 1-0 win at home to lowly Fortuna Dusseldorf.